KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), has announced a Rs578.39 million pilot project aimed at improving child and maternal health through a new school meals program in the Malir District. The initiative seeks to provide daily meals to approximately 11,000 primary school students and is expected to enhance learning, attendance, and nutrition.
A recent meeting at the Chief Minister’s House, attended by key figures from the provincial government and the WFP, focused on ongoing efforts to combat malnutrition in Sindh. This included discussions on the Nashonuma and Mamta programs, which offer support to pregnant and lactating women as well as malnourished children. The new school feeding scheme is seen as a complement to these existing initiatives.
During the meeting, WFP Country Director Ms. Coco Ushiyama highlighted the organization’s efforts in maternal and child nutrition across Sindh. Chief Minister Shah acknowledged the WFP’s contributions and outlined the province’s initiatives, which include both federal and provincial programs aimed at supporting the health of vulnerable populations.
Concerns were raised over the potential overlap between the Nashonuma and Mamta programs. However, it was determined that, despite some similarities, the programs are complementary, with Nashonuma focusing on food supplements and Mamta emphasizing financial support through Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs).
The Sindh government and WFP reached an agreement to enhance coordination and reduce redundancy between the programs. Key action points include revisiting technical designs, establishing a data-sharing mechanism, and developing a joint enrollment framework to streamline service delivery.
The School Meals Project, set to launch in the 2025-26 school year, will see the Sindh government contribute 80% of the funding, with the WFP covering the remaining 20%. The project aims to combat classroom hunger, improve academic performance, and address gender disparities by encouraging girls’ education. A centralised kitchen system will be developed to ensure the quality and nutritional value of the meals provided.
The initiative will target peri-urban schools with adequate infrastructure, focusing on maintaining a 70% daily attendance rate. Monitoring and evaluation will be conducted to assess the program’s impact, with the potential for scaling up across the province.
Chief Minister Shah emphasized the project’s broader benefits, including reducing malnutrition, creating local jobs, and strengthening community food systems. He noted the program’s potential to empower girls through targeted incentives and improved school participation.
The collaboration between the Sindh government and the WFP is expected to offer valuable insights into sustainable school meal delivery models, guiding future efforts to expand the initiative throughout Sindh.